Defining Documents of Trần Thị Phụng's Hardships
While photos can capture a million words, documents are just as important. These documents created by government bodies help connect the pieces of Trần Thị Phụng's story. On this page, I will go through a thorough analysis of each document. However, I strongly recommend that you first read about Phụng's life to really understand the significance of these documents.
Giấy Chứng Nhận Đã Học Tập Cải Tạo
Giấy Chứng Nhận Đã Học Tập Cải Tạo is Phụng's certificate of completion of her reeducation. On the top left, "Ủy Ban Quân Quản" refers to the "Governing Committee." This is the group that took over this specific region after April 30, 1975.
The words directly to the right of her image contain her full name, date of birth, birth location*, and current address.
The four lines below the image pertain to information about her reeducation. The blank spaces in this section are information specific to military service members, which she isn't. The first line is her ID number. The second line contains her occupation, in which she wrote "Accountant." The last line asks for how many days she spent at the reeducation school. She answers "Ba," which means three. Next to it, Phụng filled out the company she worked for.*
Verification of Training—USAF Letter (June 1984)
Verification of Training—USAF Letter (June 1984) is Phan Tấn Anh's Verification of Training sent directly from the Department of the Air Force. Understanding the conditions needed for Phụng's family to immigrate to the United States, this letter is evidence of of their families affiliation to the United States under the requirements under Priority III. This paper among others would help prove themselves to the Ethnic Affairs Officers that they were cleared to enter the United states.
Signed by Colonel Ronald E. Nickerson, the USAF have certified that Anh did indeed train in Texas, United States, in 1971. However, the date and address demonstrates that these papers were not requested when they were in Thailand.
Phụng's and Anh's family escaped through Cambodia to Thailand in 1986. The date when this document was requested (February 24, 1984) and when it was sent (June 4, 1984) was two years before they would even need it. This shows how the couple anticipated that they would eventually need this document. It also might indicate that their escape was delayed due to waiting for these documents.
If Phụng and Anh are still in Vietnam, whose address is this letter sent to? Phụng's aunt, Trần Anh Kim, lived in Hollywood. Therefore, she must've requested the papers upon Anh's behalf and then sent them over to Vietnam so that Phụng and Anh can use during their escape attempt.
Verification of Training—USAF Letter (July 1984)
The document above is very similar to the Verification of Training—USAF Letter (June 1984). However, instead of verifying Anh's schooling in Texas, this letter has the two certificates (on the right) attached to it.
The date in which the request of these documents were sent (June 4, 1984) is the same date in which the Verification of Training—USAF Letter (June 1984) was received. Based on this information and when this letter was sent to Anh Kim (July 2, 1984), the dates suggest that the necessary certificates were not sent along with the Verification of Training—USAF Letter (June 1984). Anh Kim might have received the first letter [Verification of Training—USAF Letter (June 1984)] and realized there wasn't any certificates. Therefore on the same day, she may have sent another letter addressing this concern. Anh's name isn't in the Subject like the other letter, proving this document may be a response to one.*
Regardless of when the letters were sent, Phụng and Anh eventually received copies of his certificates, proving that he trained with the USAF.
Reeducation Camp—Certificate of Completion
The Reeducation Camp—Certificate of Completion is unique in two ways. Firstly, this primary source is a certificate of Anh's completion of his time in the reeducation camp. Secondly, the English translation (click the arrow button) is also considered a primary source.
Knowing that Anh only stayed in the camps for one year, the date of this certificate listed on top of the seal on the bottom right corner, "ngày 12 tháng 8 năm 1976" (August 12, 1976), is most likely the date he was released by.
"Điều I", or Article I, states his full name, year of birth, and his serial number. Camps were often identified by their P.O. box number. This Article states that Anh has been terminated from the 7590-L1 camp (or in other words, he has been released). However, the most valuable information is the reason why Anh was sent to the camps in the first place. "Lái máy bay vận tải C73-Trung Uý" states that he was a pilot of the C73 transportation aircraft, ranking: Lieutenant. This document alone revealed the plane Anh flew and his ranking. "Điều II" and "Điều III" describes the conditions of his release and who is enforcing this release.
The English translation of this document is just as important as the original document. On the bottom right corner of the translation, Paralegal Hang D. Le in Los Angeles has signed off on it. While the date is hard to read on the Official Seal, the translation was approved in 1987. The intervention of a paralegal in California demonstrates Anh Kim's role in Phụng's and Anh's immigration process. The original document might have been sent to an immigration attorney in the states. The date of the seal is also different from Documents Two and Three. By 1987, Phụng and Anh were already in Thailand. This demonstrates that they were probably did not anticipate that they needed this document to prove their Priority III status.